Rhod Gilbert

Biography

Welsh sensation Rhod Gilbert is one of the UK’s leading comedy talents. He has enjoyed many successful years as a star of television and radio and continues to uphold his esteemed reputation as a seasoned host, prolific writer and first-class live performer.

He is the current host of BBC2’s hugely popular show You’re Fired, the spin-off show from The Apprentice. Rhod returns to screens this autumn to host his third series of the show; interviewing outgoing candidates and taking a light-hearted look at events in the main show. He regularly guest hosts Have I Got News For You? and has previously hosted a series of BBC2’s iconic pop quiz Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and two series of Ask Rhod Gilbert; his own panel show for BBC One.

In 2017 Rhod starred in and produced a documentary for BBC One Wales (and BBC2 across the network); exploring shyness and the huge impact it has had upon his life. Rhod Gilbert: Stand Up To Shyness was met with tremendous critical acclaim, and has just earned two nominations in the 2018 Bafta Cymru Awards for ‘Best Single Documentary’ and ‘Best Presenter’.

Rhod has written, and presented eight series of Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience for BBC One Wales (and BBC2 across the network). Rhod is an Associate Producer on the programme; proudly involved in all aspects of the production, both on and off screen. In 2011, Series One was awarded ‘Best Factual Series’ at the Bafta Cymru Awards. Series Five scooped three nominations at the 2015 Bafta Cymru Awards; Rhod won ‘Best Presenter’ and the series was nominated for ‘Best Factual Series’, and ‘Best Photography’. Along the way, Rhod has tried his hand at all manner of jobs from being a bin man in South Wales to Butler to a Lord, and in his most difficult challenge to date; an RAF Fighter Pilot. Series One and Two are available to own on DVD, and Series Nine is currently being planned.

Rhod has made countless guest appearances on panel shows Qi, Would I Lie To You? and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
As a stand-up, he has performed on, and twice hosted Live at the Apollo. He gave a sensational performance on a Christmas Day special edition of Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and has performed twice on The Royal Variety Performance; most recently joining an illustrious line-up at the centenary event in 2012. This year, he joined the line-up in the latest series of the Bafta-award winning series Taskmaster for DAVE.

Further afield, Rhod embarked on a treacherous adventure through Nepal; teaming up with Greg Davies in World’s Most Dangerous Roads for BBC 2. He later starred in, and produced Rhod Gilbert vs Kilimanjaro, which followed him leading a trek to Africa’s highest peak in aid of Velindre Cancer Centre. There was no camera crew, and never any intention to broadcast the footage, but, as a special one-off feature, BBC One Wales transmitted the footage captured by Rhod and his companions on their extraordinary adventure. Rhod continues to be a proud patron of Velindre and has since lead fundraising treks in Peru and Patagonia. Next year he will lead his fourth overseas trek embarking upon a five-day hike through the Helambu region of Nepal.

A natural and accomplished presenter, Rhod has hosted his own weekly Saturday morning show for BBC Radio Wales since 2007. Blending music, comedy and idle banter, the show is renowned for its irreverent and ill-informed opinion. On BBC Radio 2, Rhod has stepped in to host Steve Wright in The Afternoon, and has held the reins for both Graham Norton and Dermot O’Leary. He has also hosted a one-off special: Rhod Gilbert’s New Year’s Resolutions which went out live on New Year’s Day. Early in his career, Rhod wrote and recorded a full series for the station; Rhod Gilbert’s Bulging Barrel of Laughs. Featuring regular guests, stand-up comedians and live music, the show was nominated for a prestigious Sony Radio Academy Award in 2011. His early stand-up world was also depicted in a one-off sitcom; Rhod Gilbert’s Leaving Llanbobl.

Rhod is truly cemented as one of the foremost touring acts in the country with several sold-out nationwide tours under his belt. He was a sell-out sensation at the Edinburgh festival every year from 2005 – 2012 and has been invited to perform at every major international festival in the world. His stand-up shows are best-sellers on DVD. His debut live DVD – Rhod Gilbert & The Award-Winning Mince Pie – was released in 2009 and claimed the title for the year’s fastest selling debut stand-up DVD entering the stand-up chart at number 3. His second DVD – Rhod Gilbert & The Cat That Looked Like Nicholas Lyndhurst was released in 2010, and his most recent show The Man With the Flaming Battenberg Tattoo was released in 2012.
All three titles are available as a LIVE box set.

After a six-year hiatus, Rhod is set to tour the UK in 2019, with a highly-anticipated new show entitled The Book of John.